born to be wild

I was fortunate enough to interview Dennis Hopper for RAI Italian TV back in 1990, at the tender age of 24. Fresh out of Wellesley cum journalism grad school, I was determined to kick some bad boy ass, because in my militant feminist opinion his most recent movie at the time was a trite piece of sexist noir cliché...

but my battle with the patriarchy in the shape of the Easy Rider himself was short-lived, because he charmed my socks off within seconds. What remains is the devilish twinkle in his brilliant blue eyes as he confided: "I'm in love, and I'm about to have a son... I'm the happiest man on earth right now." I always did worship you Dennis... you will be missed.